Nixon Still Haunts Billy Graham

Graham joined Nixon in anti-Jewish comments in 1972 Oval Office meeting “Like all human relationships, mine with Richard Nixon was bittersweet,” evangelist (and Christianity Today founder) Billy Graham writes in his autobiography, Just As I Am. In fact, Graham was reportedly closer to Nixon than any other president—and got burned for it.

Graham’s relationship with Nixon continues to burn him. Here’s the damning headline in today’s Chicago Tribune: “Nixon, Graham anti-Semitism on tape.” Yesterday, the National Archives released 500 hours of White House tapes from 1972. Among them was a conversation Nixon and Graham had after a February 1 prayer breakfast.

Graham was especially concerned about perceived Jewish control of the media, and blames them for “putting out the pornographic stuff.” “This stranglehold has got to be broken or the country’s going down the drain,” he told Nixon.

Graham’s biographer, William Martin, tells the Tribune he’s stunned. “This is out of character with anything else I have heard Billy Graham say or be quoted as saying. It is disappointing.”

Graham isn’t responding to the story. His spokesman, Larry Ross, only said that the evangelist isn’t feeling well and doesn’t recall the conversation.

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Hundreds killed in India religious violence:

251 killed in India religious attacks | Chaos spread through this western Indian city Friday and the death toll over three days of Hindu-Muslim violence climbed, despite patrols by hundreds of soldiers and orders for police to shoot rioters and arsonists on sight. (Associated Press)
The slaughter in Gujarat will lead to more tragedy | Sectarian violence in India always resonates with its neighbors (The Guardian, London)
More at Yahoo full coverage

Persecution:

Elderly Christians threatened with ouster | More than a dozen Christians—three of them in their 90s—face eviction from a Beijing old people’s home after police raided a suspected prayer meeting on the premises and ordered the home closed (The Washington Times)
Alleged BNP-backed men besiege Christians | Houses in three villages looted, damaged: 30 hurt (The Daily Star, Bangladesh)

War on terrorism:

Religion-violence link debated | Andrew Sullivan, Richard John Neuhaus share the stage (The Washington Times)
U.S. hero search takes a wrong turn | Todd Beamer is being used to stoke the embers of American heartache, raise Bush’s ratings, and support the largely invisible war on terrorism (Michael Posner, The Globe & Mail, Toronto)
Patriotism, religion and schools don’t mix | We need to be careful not to confuse patriotism with religion (Larry Spalding, Tallahassee [Fla.] Democrat)

Islam and the Middle East:

Dear Pat, jihads aren’t just for Muslims | An open memo to Pat Robertson (Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune)
The hoarse whisper of Christianity | For all those who feel an affinity for the Holy Land, this pilgrimage in the footsteps of Jesus offers a unique and challenging vantage point. (Review of The Body and the Blood: The Holy Land’s Christians at the Turn of a New Millennium) (The Christian Science Monitor)
Same name, different face | The Jesus of Islamic literature has rough words for those who collude with government (Review of The Muslim Jesus) (The Christian Science Monitor)
New “Crusader weapon may cause Mideast troubles | Cannon has been under development since 1994 (Voice of America)

Politics:

Mayoral aide wants pastors involved in government | Carlton N. Pressley says a pastor should be present at all D.C. government cabinet-level meetings (The Washington Post)
Riordan can learn from the Mormons | You gain adherents by standing for something, not by watering down your beliefs (Gary Lawrence, Los Angeles Times)
Silence isn’t golden | Confront culture or accommodate it? Religious broadcasters’ dispute raises old questions (Edward E. Plowman, World)
Church and president | After more than a year in office, Bush has become more open about his religious beliefs—and its influence on his work (Martha Brant, Newsweek)

Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore:

Lawyer: Alabama Justice did not advocate execution of gays | Opponents are lying about Roy Moore’s beliefs (Associated Press)
Monument suit moves forward | Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore is scheduled to give a deposition April 8 (The Gadsden [Ala.] Times)

Faith-based initiative:

Churches, children, and government money | How faith-based initiatives and vouchers can increase churches’ accountability (Marci Hamilton, Findlaw.com)
Bush: Faith groups have role in welfare plan | Faith-based initiative again tied to welfare reform (CNN)
Mud bowl | The state of the faith-based initiative (Marvin Olasky, World)

Education:

Crusade divides students | Christian push at University of Northern Florida leads to sign thefts, lively debates (Jacksonville Times-Union)
Bringing together faith and reason | God and science enjoy a peaceful co-existence in most religious schools—Catholic schools have taught evolution and the origin of the species in science classes for decades. (The Plain Dealer, Cleveland)
Faith in our schools | Values are an intrinsic part of teaching (Elaine Storkey, The Times, London)

Medical and life ethics:

When does a group of cells become a person? | Britain debates ethics of embryo research (The Daily Telegraph, London)
New medical oath no cure for critics | Christian bioethicist Nigel Cameron says it’s too watered down (Fox News)
Also: Hypocritical oath | Doctors replace Hippocrates with a liberal mission statement (World)

Sex & marriage:

“Without this ring … “ | A divorce ceremony can help ease the grief and pain at the end of a marriage (Time)
Abstinence-only initiative advancing | President Bush proposed a budget for 2003 that would raise federal spending on “abstinence only” education (The New York Times)

Abuse:

Aid groups find rampant child sex abuse | Relief workers in Africa routinely exploit young refugees, agencies report (Chicago Tribune)
African refugees condemn sex abuses (BBC)
Lawmakers criticized for gutting clergy bill | Massachusetts House inserted a provision allowing churches to decide, according to their own “rules or practices,” whether to report child abuse. (Boston Herald)
Lawyers say victims need more help | Abuse revelations spark emotional crises (Boston Herald)
Priests joining to discuss their church’s future (The Boston Globe)
Pastor admits lie on celibacy | George Spagnolia says he’s falsely accused of child molestation (The Boston Globe)
Also: Accused Lowell priest gets eviction notice (Boston Herald)

Crime:

Bible verses barred in Cruz sentencing | Both sides planned on drawing on Scripture in death penalty case (The Seattle Times)
‘Troubled soul’ causing trouble for Pittsburgh church | Pastor says burglar needs help, not prosecution (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Church life:

Who goes to church? | Older Southern women do; many Catholic men don’t (ABCNews.com)
Rector’s ethics are questioned | Parishioners charge he plagiarized; he is suspended (Detroit Free Press)
Abbey’s ‘secret’ chamber opening to public | Visitors will be allowed in to the 600-year-old Medieval Abbot’s Dining Hall as part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations (Ananova)
Also: Abbey’s ‘secret’ hall opens its doors (BBC)

Missions & ministry:

Giving hope to life’s rejects | Pastor Wally Glower basks in the comfort of non-material rewards (Diane Carman, The Denver Post)
Small congregation takes on a big mission | Tabernacle Church has only a dozen members, but its food closet helps close to 200 families a week (Dover [Del.] Post)
Black churches mobilize against AIDS/HIV | 13th national observance of the Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS begins Sunday (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
New center is a godsend for religious broadcasting group | Building makes Seventh-day Adventist Church media ministries a lot easier (Los Angeles Times)

Catholics:

Vatican warns of dangers of cyberspace faith | Internet should not be used as a religious supermarket, say documents (Reuters)
Pope told he’s a picture of immorality | Member of Australian Parliament says pontiff should take action against Campbelltown Catholic Club (The Sydney Morning Herald)
A huge crucifix has this small town abuzz | Thomas Monaghan, founder of Domino’s Pizza, has a vision to transform this small wealthy suburb of about 5,000 people outside the city of Ann Arbor into a center for Roman Catholic endeavors (The New York Times)
Roman Catholic leader invited to Kremlin | Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz was invited to the Kremlin on Thursday — the Russian leadership’s first positive overture toward Catholics since the Vatican upgraded its Russian presence to full-fledged dioceses this month. (Associated Press)

Eastern Orthodox:

Russian Orthodox object to Pope link | Church leaders have opposed papal visit, so John Paul II will lead prayer by video (Associated Press)
Bush, Orthodox Christian head to meet | Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I will visit White House next Tuesday (Associated Press)
Also: Bush to meet world’s Orthodox Christian leader (Reuters)

Pop culture and music:

Appeal spreads for series that spreads the word | Christian ‘Left Behind’ novels make an industry of belief (The Boston Globe)
Christian fiction takes off | Protestants succeed in a market once dominated by Catholics (The Boston Globe)
Waiting for a miracle | Bruce Cockburn’s powerful political songs gain new life post-9/11 (Boston Herald)
Johnny Cash: At 70, the legendary singer is still an asset to music (The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Also: Genuine Cash (The Orlando Sentinel)
Godfather of Gospel to be honored Sunday | Esmond Patterson has been on the Atlanta airwaves for nearly a half-century, spreading the gospel of gospel music long before it was popular (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Movie censorship software: When parents can’t say no | There’s something a little disquieting about turning parental guidance over to a software manufacturer (Ken Paulson, Freedom Forum)

Other stories of interest:

Money woes for ecumenical council | NCC continues to cut staff, budget (Religion News Service)
Turning a profit on the price of freedom | The Sudanese slave scam is an example of how cynicism distorts even missions of mercy. (Tony Norman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Does prayer work? | The world’s religions got together a month ago to pray for peace. Has the planet seen any impact—and is there any evidence that praying works anyway? (BBC)